Ballistic pendulum stabilizer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11815419-B2
Application number	US-202217960190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2022
Priority date	Oct 6, 2021
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

Examples are directed towards apparatuses, systems, and methods. For example, an apparatus includes a weight including a first side and a second side. The first side of the weight forms a receiving hole in the first side. A pin includes a first end and a second end. The second end of the pin is inserted into the receiving hole of the weight. The pin includes a reduced portion. A pin detonator is coupled to the reduced portion of the pin to sever the pin when detonated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a weight including a first side and a second side, the first side of the weight configured to form a receiving hole in the first side; a pin including a first end and a second end, the second end of the pin inserted into the receiving hole of the weight, the pin including a reduced portion; and a pin detonator coupled to the reduced portion of the pin to sever the pin when detonated.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the second side of the weight configured to form a mount hole in the second side to mount the weight on a base.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the base is a tripod to support the weight.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the mount hole is threaded, and wherein the base includes a pedestal and a threaded stud to securely engage the mount hole.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a collar disposed on the weight and disposed around the pin.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pin includes a spacing distance from the first end of the pin to the reduced portion, to prevent the pin detonator from damaging a pendulum that is to be engaged by the first end of the pin.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a firing system wired to the pin detonator.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the firing system is wired to a test detonator that is wired in series with the pin detonator.

9 . A system comprising:
a weight including a first side forming a receiving hole, and a second side forming a mount hole connected to the receiving hole via a through hole; a pin including a first end and a second end, the second end of the pin inserted into the receiving hole of the weight, the pin including a reduced portion; a pin detonator coupled to the reduced portion of the pin to sever the pin when detonated; and a base including a stud to engage the mount hole of the weight to mount the weight on the base.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the base is a tripod including an adjustable column coupled to a pedestal supporting the stud.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the pin is a frangible material.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the pin is wood.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the base is metal.

14 . An apparatus comprising:
a weight including a first side and a second side, the first side of the weight configured to form a receiving hole in the first side and the second side of the weight configured to form a mount hole interconnected to the receiving hole via a through hole; and a mechanism mounted to the receiving hole and supporting a retractable pin, the mechanism configured to controllably retract and extend the retractable pin.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the mechanism includes an electronically actuated solenoid to controllably retract and extend the retractable pin.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the electronically actuated solenoid is a spring-loaded linear solenoid.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the electronically actuated solenoid is a push-pull linear solenoid.

18 . A method to stabilize a pendulum, comprising:
positioning a base of a stabilizer under a counterweight plate of the pendulum; inserting a pin into a receiving hole of a weight of the stabilizer; placing a collar around the pin onto a first surface of the weight; and adjusting the base of the stabilizer to cause the pin to engage with the counterweight plate of the pendulum to prevent displacement of the pendulum.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising disposing a pin detonator on a reduced portion of the pin.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising firing the pin detonator to sever the pin to free the pendulum.

Assignees

• The Government Of The Us Secretary Of Homeland Security

Inventors

• Nansteel Mark
• Yang Xianzhi
• Veldman Roger
• Chen Chih-Tsai
• Ghent Matthew

Classifications

• G01L5/14 Primary

  for measuring the force of explosions; for measuring the energy of projectiles · CPC title